HSTA-Leeward Chapter

Hawaii State Teachers Association

Special Features:

2008 RA REPORT – Caroline Steele, LEEWARD DELEGATE

NEA Convention 2008
 
This was my second convention, so I had a better idea of what to expect.
 
I attended several meetings before sessions began.  One was concerning
NCLB and how unfair it is to base everything on one test.  I heartily
agree, but when the discussion moved on to "highly qualified" teachers, it
sounded as if such teachers are so designated on the basis of just one
test!  So is a highly qualified teacher just a test score?  Maybe we need
to look into that Praxis.
 
Another meeting I attended had to do with why minorities have a high drop
out rate.  The panel consisted of 2 Hispanics, a Native American, a Hmong
speaker and Hill Harper representing the Black population.  Since I feel
in Hawaii we are mostly teaching a so-called minority population, hearing
this discussion was important to me.  It seems that the discussion mainly
pointed out the difficulties of coming from a different language
background and then struggling with Standard English.  Of course cultural
differences and expectations come into play here as well.
 
Interesting to me personally was the woman I was sitting next to in this
latter meeting.  She was a Black woman from the Maryland delegation.  When
she discovered I was from Hawaii, she told me she graduated from Nanakuli
High School in 1988!  What a small world!
 
I enjoyed hearing the "teacher astronaut," the teacher of the year and the
ESP of the year.  The ESP was especially interesting, I thought.
 
Reg Weaver as always was terrific.  He will be a tough act to follow.
 
The governor of North Carolina spoke to us about what he has done for
education in his state.  I wonder if he needs Spanish teachers………………
 
I personally found the sitting time uncomfortable.  I didn't get enough
exercise during the week and felt like I was REALLY getting old by the
time I returned to Hawaii.  My joints were stiff, but being back home and
back to my routine, it is just an unpleasant memory, rapidly fading while
the pleasant parts of the trip come to the forefront of my memory.
 
It was annoying when I tried to mail papers back from the business center
in the convention hall to be told they couldn't mail to Hawaii because it
was "foreign."  And how long ago did Hawaii become a state?
 
I was amazed at how many of the workers at the convention were of Hispanic
background.  I had lots of opportunity to practice my Spanish.  I even
discovered a woman who was born in the Panama Canal Zone near where I
lived for 11 years.
 
For me, one of the highlights of these conventions is meeting new people
and coming home with new ideas.
 
 
 
Caroline L. Steele
Linguistics Department
Moore Hall
University of Hawaii

This Fall, Leeward Chapter will be offering two (2) classes for PDERI credit and already posted on the PDERI Master Calendar. All interested Leeward teachers should check the PDERI website and sign up.

The course, “Teaching Strategies for the Leeward Teacher in a Diverse Culture” is mainly for new teachers or those who are still in probation. This course is designed to acquaint Leeward teachers with teaching strategies and the many cultures of the students they have in their classrooms. More details are posted on the PDERI website.

The other course is entitled, “Teaching the Disadvantaged Student in Leeward District” and is sponsored through a grant from the National Education Association. Basically, this course uses the foundation of Ruby Payne’s work in poverty. Classes are open to any Leeward teacher. There are more details on the PDERI website.

Both courses required portfolios and attendance at the course sessions. The required portfolios require substantial reflections and evidence of implementation of strategies learned. The Poverty course also requires details of two (2) case studies of students within the participants’ classroom or caseload. Only upon the completion of all the requirements can participants obtain the three (3) PD-credits for each class.

When you're feeling discouraged, read this

Interesting perspective:

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One
man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He
argued,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best
option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he
said to another guest; you're a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you
make?

Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, you
want to know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought
they could. I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional
Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in
absolute silence.

You want to know what I make? I make! kids wonder. I make them
question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean
it. I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them show
all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your
heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you
must pay no attention because they just didn't learn.

Susan paused and then continued. You want to know what I make? "I
MAKE A DIFFERENCE." What do you make?